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Sydney City Walk

Sydney Opera House, The Rocks and Barangaroo linked by the city’s gardens and parkland.

This is the ultimate Sydney city walk. The challenge: exploring the living green-ness of Australia’s largest city without getting lost in the urban jungle.

In just half a day, see the big hitters – the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge – combine it with historic district The Rocks, traverse over to new parkland Barangaroo and catch the vibrancy of Darling Harbour… all with as much natural area, green parks and trees as you can cram into a city.

Highlights

Sydney Opera House

Royal Botanic Gardens

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair

Art Gallery of NSW

Hyde Park

Darling Harbour

Barangaroo

The Rocks

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney City Walk Map

Sydney Coast Walks map coming soon!

Quick Start Guide

Distance?

22km (13.6 miles).

Time?

5 hours.

Track Conditions?

Paved walkway.

Mobile (cell phone) reception?

Yes.

Public Transport?

Yes. Walk begins and ends at ferry wharf with train station and bus stops.

Coffee?

Yes. Pick from many cafes and eateries.

Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Gardens

Barangaroo

For locals, this is the most surprising part of the walk. Back in the day it was working wharves, abandoned in 2003 when commercial shipping was moved to Port Botany. That same Hawkesbury Sandstone so prolific in Sydney’s historic buildings (and a la naturale at Wedding Cake Rock) has transformed this waterfront precinct into a thoughtfully designed green space.

Views across to Balmain, Goat Island, and the spectacular reveal of Sydney Harbour Bridge make this an unexpected highlight of the city walk.

Long before the wharves, evidence of shell middens and rock engravings show Aboriginal occupation dating back about 6,000 years. There are worthy efforts to recognise the area’s varied history, with ‘Barangaroo’ being named after a Cammeraygal woman who lived in the area at the time of European settlement. There’s also a free app of Indigenous stories relating to the area.